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Willis Bond & Co was formed in 1988 and has a proven track record of developing excellent projects and communities that stand the test of time.

The company’s success is founded on taking a disciplined approach to the investment process and establishing strong relationships with our development partners.

Highlights

2017

February: the base build for the Te Auaha campus on the corner of Cuba and Dixon Streets in Wellington is completed on schedule and handed over to Whitireia WelTec to commence its internal fit-out.

March: the Catalina Bay project successfully launches to the market. Comprising 1.8 hectares of north-facing waterfront land at the tip of Hobsonville Point, this project represents a true mixed-use precinct and will deliver unique retail, hospitality, commercial offerings in its first stage, followed by residential offerings later in the project.

August: Willis Bond & Co signs an agreement with the Hobsonville Land Company to acquire 1.8 hectares of land at the north-eastern end of Hobsonville Point. This will form the site of a mixed-use project called Catalina Bay, which will deliver a blend of retail, hospitality, commercial and residential offerings.

July: demolition at the Deka site on the corner of Cuba and Dixon Streets in Wellington begins.

October: over 50% of residences at Wynyard Central and 132 Halsey are sold (equating to $200 million in sales). Prime Minister John Key oversees the official ground-breaking ceremony on 15 October and construction starts.

2014

February: Willis Bond acquires the Farmers site, adjacent to the previously purchased Deka site on Cuba Street in Wellington.

2013

March: a Joint Venture is formed to acquire 4.5 hectares of land in Albany, Auckland for a mixed-use development, which will become known as The Hub.

June: a new 5,600 square metre warehouse for USL is completed at 494 Rosebank Road, Auckland; this is sold in October.

October: Willis Bond Capital Partners acquires the rights to purchase and develop the Sunderland A block at Hobsonville Point, Auckland.

November: Willis Bond enters into a Heads of Agreement with Wellington Waterfront Limited to lease and develop Site 10, Wellington; this will become home to the new PwC Centre.

2012

January: construction on the new development on the Wellington waterfront known as Clyde Quay Wharf commences, due for completion in late 2014.

March: the refurbishment of Xero House is completed and the building fully leased. It is sold in May for $17.7 million.

December: Willis Bond acquires the former Deka building – an iconic site on the corner of Cuba and Dixon Streets, Wellington. It will be developed into a mixed-use education and retail development – home to Whitireia WelTec’s new performing arts campus Te Auaha with retail units fronting onto Cuba Street.

2010

Willis Bond acquires two key properties in Wellington – the John Chambers Building (now Xero House) and the adjoining vacant site on the corner of Taranaki and Cable Streets, now the location of the new One Market Lane apartment development.

2009

Willis Bond establishes Willis Bond Capital Partners, a $128 million fund to capitalise on large-scale development and investment opportunities in the New Zealand commercial real estate market.

2007

A development agreement in respect of the Overseas Passenger Terminal is signed with Wellington Waterfront Limited (CCO) for a large-scale, predominantly residential mixed-use development to be known as Clyde Quay Wharf.

2004

In 2004 Willis Bond acquires a number of buildings between Victoria and Willis Streets in Wellington from the City Council. These are subsequently developed to create the mixed-use Chews Lane Precinct with an end value of $175 million.

2002

Willis Bond completes the refurbishment of Transpower House on The Terrace, Wellington.

2001 - 2004

Between 2001 and 2004 Willis Bond redevelops Shed 22, NZX and The Free Ambulance Building – three adjacent historic buildings on Wellington’s waterfront – for retail, office and residential use.

2000

Willis Bond acquires 5.1 hectares on Te Irirangi Drive and Te Rakau Drive in Botany Downs, Auckland. It then forms a joint venture with AMP to develop the land in a way that complements the town centre. A large format retail development known as The Hub is built on the site and proves highly successful, with the units later sold down in 2004.

1999

Willis Bond acquires via an investment syndicate the former Queens Wharf Centre on Wellington’s waterfront. The two-level retail centre is converted into two large office floor plates in excess of 3,000 square metres per level. Retail tenancies are developed in areas with higher pedestrian flow and natural access to public space.

1994

Willis Bond jointly with Morrison & Co establish Property For Industry, one of New Zealand’s best–regarded listed property companies. The management contract of Property For Industry is later sold to AMP in 1999.

1993

New Zealand’s first private equity fund manager, Pencarrow Funds Management, is established by Willis Bond and Morrison & Co.

1990

The company carries out its first property developments: the redevelopment of Molly Malones in Wellington, and the redevelopment of a Paraparaumu hotel site. Both properties were acquired from Lion Nathan. Molly Malones went on to become an iconic Wellington establishment.